Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-02
An Unhappy Organ.

Mc,srs Editors Last Mondays issue Of
the Springfield Republican contained bit
ter amentation over the fact that at Wheel
ing, W. Va, the Friday before, five thous-
and Grand Army men marched in the
gutter with trailed flags rather than pass
under banner bearing a portrait Of Presi-
dent Cleveland, which the editor of q Dem
ocratic newspaper had flung across the
street ON the line Of their march At the
head Of their grand procession rode in
carriages Gov. Beaver Of Pennsylvania.
Gov Foraker Of Ohio, and many other ex-
officers Of the Union Army, who became
distinguished during the war of the REBEL
ion. This abject and servie organ-the
Springfield Republican-says, THE insult
offered 10y members Of the Grand Army to
the President Of the United States at
Wheeling Friday is a serious matter 10 that
organization. IL then very graciously
proceeds to advise OK soldiers who are
Democrats TO withdraw therefrom, declar-
ing that when they-the Democrats--do
leave that organization there will he moth
ing left Of it "bW u partisan instrument,
trH pcHsion-qrdbbing for their animdting
pmposc' Its gratuitous advice will not be
acted upon by the old soldiers, no matter
The grand characteristics of the order will
continue in the future, as in the past, to be
| loyalty. fraternity and charity" The
members Of the Grand Army of the Repub
lie are as loyal to their country. and as
| loving of each other, IN pence rs they were
| in war. They are neither thieves"
/ "batherskites' nor pension grahbers, as
| has repeatedly been charged against them
| 10y President Cleveland aud his S. r. or
| gan.
/ Now what is the trouble, "You can
| lead "A horse to the water but You can't
make him drink j, an old and truthful
saying. The members of the Grand Army
/ of the Republic are among our best citi-
zcns who think for themselves and have
| judgment and opinions of their own And
neither fulsome eulogy of the President on
the one hand. nor contemptuous reproach
. of the Grand Army on the other hv the
| Republican or any other newspaper or
newspapers, can make the old soldiers love
| or respect Grover Cleveland That he is
no friend of the old soldier or his dependent
widow and children, has been evidenced
| repeatedly 10y his own acts during the past
two years and five months
The Grand Army were substantially IA
unit in favor Of the dependent pension
/ bill passed bv Congress at its last session
buA Nil'H th' 7 ItNlhtul Ntuptu. IL NAN
not service pension hill as some had
been led to believe. but simply provided
IA pension Of sl2 per month to every ex-
union soldier who Is dependent upon public
or private charity through no personal mis-
conduct Of his own. The people Of this
country. speaking through a majority of
their Representatives and senators IN Con
gress, approved the bill for 1t took out Of
tAf poor houses fifteen thousand dependent
veteran sol,hers-our comrades IN arms
who fought, endured and suffered. that we
might have united country once again.
The President 10y his veto relegated those
old soldiers back to the poor-house. Now
mark the contrast At the same session Of
Congress the President approved ser
vice pension hill for the benefit Of the vet
Grams of the Mexican war. most Of whom
reside IN the late rehellipus states, and many
of them were IN the rebel army during the
rebellion. fighting % destroy the govern
ment which now pensions them and against
those dependant veterans who fought b.
preserve that same government and uphold
its fla. and who would have been saved
from the poor house 10y the vetoed Till
Thus 10y the action of the President the
Mexican veteran, who fought for the ex-
tension and perpetuutiuu of slavery and
subsequently while M the rebel army for
, tht destruction OF iht government, wheth-
er iu needy on IN atiluent circumstances.
are penslpned while the poor and needy
Union soldiers are denied the bounty of
the government and left Ia die in the poor
house
Again, Iu Just two years time, Mr. Cleve-
land vetoed one h,udrrd dHd tccHtV- tLrc.
i private pension bills passed 10y Congress,
. for the benefit Of disabled and dependent
i Union veterans whose cases could not he
brought within the general law and the
rules Of the pension department. IL Is need